I like Osteria La Buca, an Italian restaurant in LA. This place has the best pasta, period. I love their Nero Spaghetti - squid ink spaghetti with clams, squid, shrimp, tomato, bread crumbs, and chile flake. I get that almost every time I eat here.
Osteria La Buca's spaghetti tends to be thicker than regular spaghetti, giving it a chewier texture, which I like.
Among their salad menu, I like the Chopped Salad, which comes with finely chopped arugula, romaine, radicchio, chickpeas, tomato, sopressata, castelvetrano olives, cucumber, ricotta salata, and turmeric vinaigrette dressing. You can even eat this salad with a spoon!
There are 2 locations - one on Melrose Ave and the other one on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. Both are equally good.
My friend ordered a Chicken Parmesan with broccolini, and he really liked it as well.
This place has the most phenomenal views, and the food is delicious.
Secluded and tucked away in the mountains, this restaurant can be a little hard to find, but as you get closer to the restaurant, you'll know you're getting closer to it because there are cars parked on the street for like a half a mile.
I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time because on weekends, especially, this place is packed.
My favorite dish from them is the Rasta Pasta - Linguine pasta toasted in pink coconut sauce, a mix of bell peppers, and Jamaican seasoning. The sauce is the bomb! So, so good, and you get the enjoy the view as you eat.
Casual Restaurants in Los Angeles
friends who are from out of state
$20-40
uniquely LA
popular among locals
Italian or American cuisine preferred
I like Osteria La Buca, an Italian restaurant in LA. This place has the best pasta, period. I love their Nero Spaghetti - squid ink spaghetti with clams, squid, shrimp, tomato, bread crumbs, and chile flake. I get that almost every time I eat here.
Osteria La Buca's spaghetti tends to be thicker than regular spaghetti, giving it a chewier texture, which I like.
Among their salad menu, I like the Chopped Salad, which comes with finely chopped arugula, romaine, radicchio, chickpeas, tomato, sopressata, castelvetrano olives, cucumber, ricotta salata, and turmeric vinaigrette dressing. You can even eat this salad with a spoon!
There are 2 locations - one on Melrose Ave and the other one on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. Both are equally good.
My friend ordered a Chicken Parmesan with broccolini, and he really liked it as well.
Cafe on 27 in Topanga!
This place has the most phenomenal views, and the food is delicious.
Secluded and tucked away in the mountains, this restaurant can be a little hard to find, but as you get closer to the restaurant, you'll know you're getting closer to it because there are cars parked on the street for like a half a mile.
I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time because on weekends, especially, this place is packed.
My favorite dish from them is the Rasta Pasta - Linguine pasta toasted in pink coconut sauce, a mix of bell peppers, and Jamaican seasoning. The sauce is the bomb! So, so good, and you get the enjoy the view as you eat.